Chapter 14 - Sources of Energy

❖ Characteristics of a good fuel:

(i) High calorific value
(ii) Less smoke
(iii) Less residue after burning
(iv) Easy availability
(v) Inexpensive
(vi) Easy to store and transport

❖ Fossil fuels:
Were formed millions of years ago, when plants and animal remains got buried under the earth
and were subjected to high temperature and pressure conditions. E.g.: Coal, Petroleum, etc.
These fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy and cause environmental problems due
to pollution.

❖ Thermal power plants:

(i) Use coal, petroleum and natural gas to produce thermal electricity.
(ii) Electricity transmission is very efficient.
(iii) The steam produced by burning the fossil fuels runs the turbine to produce electricity

❖ Hydro power plant:

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 (i) It is the most conventional renewable energy source obtained from water falling from a
great height.
(ii) It is clean & nonpolluting source of energy.
(iii) Dams are constructed to collect water flowing in high altitude rivers. The stored water
has a lot of potential energy.
(iv) When water is allowed to fall from a height, potential energy to kinetic energy, which
rotates the turbines to produce electricity.

❖ Disadvantages of Hydro power plant:

(i) Highly expensive to construct.
(ii) Dams cannot be constructed on all river sites.
(iii) Large areas of human habitation and agricultural fields get submerged.
(iv) People face social and environmental problems.

❖ Non-conventional sources:
(1) Bio Mass:

• It is the source of the conventionally used fuels that are used in our country. E.g.: Cow
dung cakes, fire-wood, coal, charcoal
• Bio gas: It is a mixture of gases produced during decomposition of bio mass in the
absence of Oxygen. (Anaerobic Respiration). Methane is the major component of bio
gas.
• Bio gas plants: Animal dung, sewage, crop residues, vegetable wastes, poultry
droppings, etc. are used to produce Bio gas in Bio gas plants.

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(2) Wind Energy:

• It can be converted into mechanical and electrical energy.

• Kinetic energy of the wind is used in running of wind mills, which are used to lift water,
grind grains, etc.
• Advantages: (i) Eco friendly
(ii) Renewable
• Disadvantages: (i) Wind speed not uniform always.
(ii) Needs a large area to erect series of wind mills.
(iii) Big amount of investment is needed.
(iv) Output is less as compared to investment

(3) Solar Energy:

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 • Solar radiations can be converted electricity through solar cells (photovoltaic cells).
• Photovoltaic cells convert solar radiations directly into electricity through silicon solar
cells.
• Solar cells arrange on a large flat sheets form a solar panel.
• Solar cookers are painted black from outside and a large glass plate to trap solar
radiations by green house effect.
• Advantage of Solar cookers:
(i) Eco friendly
(ii) Renewable
(iii) Used in rural areas.
(iv) Retains all the nutrients in food due to slow cooking.
• Disadvantages of solar cooker:
(i) Silicon cells are expensive.
(ii) Solar radiations are not uniform over earth’s surface.
(iii) Cannot be used at night or on cloudy days.
(iv) Cannot be used to make chapattis for frying as these require a temperature of
140°C or more.
(Maximum temperature of 100°C only can be achieved in a solar cooker)
• Other solar devices- Solar water heater, Solar furnace

(4) Geo Thermal Energy:

(i) Energy harnessed from the heat of the sun is called Geo thermal energy.
(ii) Magma is formed when this heat melts the rocks. The molten rocks and hot gases are
called magma
(iii) The magma gets collected at some depths below the earth’s surfaces. These places
are called “Hot spots”
(iv) When underground water comes in contact these hot spots, it changes into steam,
which can be used to generate electricity.
• Advantages of Geo thermal energy:
(i) Renewable
(ii) Inexpensive
• Disadvantages of Geo thermal energy:
(i) Only few sites available for harnessing energy.
(ii) Expensive

(5) Nuclear Energy:

(i) Energy released when some changes take place in the nucleus of the atom of a
substance, is called Nuclear energy.
(ii) It is used for heat generation, fuel for marine vessels.

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 • Advantages or Nuclear Energy:
(i) Alternative source of energy due to depletion of fossil fuels.
(ii) From a small amount of fuel, a large amount of energy is released.

• Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy:

(i) Risk of nuclear waste leakage
(ii) High cost of setting up of nuclear plant
(iii) Pollution of environment.

(6) Energy from the sea-

• Tidal Energy: Locations in India – Gulf of Kutch, Gujrat & W. Bengal
(i) Depends upon harnessing the rise and fall of sea level due to tidal action.
(ii) Dams are constructed across a narrow part of sea and turbine converts tidal energy
into electrical energy.
Disadvantages: Uniform tidal action is not seen
• Wave Energy:
(i) Kinetic energy of the waves of sea are used to rotate turbines.
(ii) These turbines generate electrical energy

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